This week’s Music Box is ‘tacet’ because it’s ‘Youth Sunday’. ‘Tacet’ is Latin for ‘is silent’, and it’s the music term for ‘don’t play’. In a set of orchestral parts, for example, if the 3rd bassoon doesn’t play, there will be a printed part that says ‘3rd bassoon: tacet’. You’d think this is odd – if they don’t play then why don’t they simply not get a printed part? But in the chaos of rehearsals and distributing sheet music, if the 3rd bassoon doesn’t get a part she can wonder, “Do I simply not play, or did my part get lost?” (more↠)

One day I told my father I needed to find some new solo music for the Café Pajarera. Together we set off on the search. For two reasons I shall never forget that afternoon. First, my father bought me my first full-sized cello.... (more↠)